Tent construction



June 9, 1959 4 z. AVIEZER ET AL 2,839,338

TENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 13, 1955 INVENTOIZ Irv/52E g gfif' RFIPaMIlT BY l/ ATTORNEY United States Patent M 2,889,838 TENT CONSTRUCTION Zvi Aviezer and Jerucham Rapoport, Tel Aviv, Israel Application October 13, 1955, Serial No. 540,266 Claims priority, application Israel November 5, 1954 2 Claims. (Cl. 135-4) The present invention relates to tents or more particularly to structural elements for tent framework on which the canvas is spread and by which it is held. In known tent constructions, poles, bars and struts are used which are connected to each other by various kinds of holding and connecting means. Consequently the erection of a tent takes a considerable time, according to the size thereof. Moreover these loose parts easily get lost while being transported from one place to the other.

It is the object of this invention to facilitate the erection of tents and to simplify the work connected therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to permit the erection of a tent within a shorter time than hitherto possible with conventional material.

Yet another object of the invention is to prevent the loss of parts needed for the erection of a tent.

Finally it is an object of the invention to provide a tent which can be placed at the disposal of users at a reasonably low price.

The invention will become clear from the following description with reference to the annexed drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an erected tent according to the invention, while Figures 2, 3 and 4 show constructional details of the skeleton.

The tent skeleton erected from two of the new elements comprises: A horizontal ridge beam 1 which is supported by four legs 2.

Beam 1 is composed of two bars connected with each other by a sleeve 3 into which both enter, or said two parts may be telescoping tubes. Thus it will be sufficient to describe in the following the structural element comprising a portion of beam 1 and two legs 2 interconnected by a plate 4. Beam portion 1, which is preferably formed by a round metal rod, is hingedly attached at one end to a plate 4. Although an ordinary hinge with two flaps one of which is fixed to plate 4 and the other to beam 1, would do, for the sake of rigidity and safety at the end of rod 1 is formed an eye 1' through which passes, and in which is fixed, a pin 5. Plate 4 is provided with a cut out in one of its edges in which eye 1 is positioned. The two portions of plate 4 flanking the cut-out are rolled to form eyes 6, into which the pin 5 can extend. The movement of plate 4 in relation to rod 1 is limited to an angle of slightly more than 90, see Fig. 3 since eye 1' has an angular portion 12 which engages the surface of the cutout portion of plate 4 between the eyes 6 in the extended position of beam portion 1, to prevent further turning. On plate 4 are provided two studs 7 being positioned on the side of plate 4, which is opposite to that to which rod 1 extends.

Studs 7 serve as pivots about which legs 2 can swing in a plane parallel to the plane of plate 4. Legs 2 are preferably made from flat bars of metal and their upper ends are cut at an angle to their longitudinal direction as seen in Fig. 4, so that with both legs swung out the said upper ends come to lie against each other firmly arresting the legs in this position. In order that legs 2 meet symmetrically in relation to each other, a stud 8 is provided on plate 4 and small semicircular cut-outs 8' are provided in the upper edges of legs 2, so that when the said edges of the legs lie against each other, or nearly so, their position is predetermined by stud 8 which is engaged by the cut-outs 8.

2,889,838 Patented June 9, 1959 At their lower ends legs 2 may be pointed (see Fig. 3) and discs 9 may be provided near these pointed ends, so as to increase the stability of the tent when put up in sandy terrain. Moreover holes may be provided in the lower ends of legs 2 through which 'holes pegs 10 can be driven whenever the tent is to be put up on hard ground. In fact the peg 10 may be substituted by long carpenter's nails so that the tent is practically nailed to the ground.

In order to erect a tent frame work two of the above described structural elements are united by means of a sleeve 3 slid over the free ends of parts 1. The structure is now put up and a canvas covering made and sewn to the dimensions of the structure, is fittingly pulled over the latter. The entrance into the tent may be provided either by having a flap in the triangular ends or in one of the sides. The canvas may be folded upso that it can be carried like a rucksack, straps being provided for this purpose, the metal parts being accommodated in the said hem.

The legs may be made folding so that in the collapsed state the structure will require even less space.

To legs 2 hooks 11 may be attached, some distance above ground, so that hammocks can be suspended therefrom.

We claim:

1. A collapsible structural element for tents comprising, as a unit, a pair of legs, a bar for forming a ridge pole for the tent, and a plate hingedly joining said legs and bar, said plate having a pair of upstanding spaced ears at its top end, means for pivotally mounting one end of said bar between said ears for movement between an extended position in which said bar projects substantially perpendicularly from the plane of said hinge member and a collapsed position in which the bar lies parallel to and along the front face of said plate, each of said legs being pivotally mounted on the rear face of said plate for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said plate between an extended position in which the legs diverge angularly from said plate, and a collapsed position in which the legs depend from said plate substantially parallel to each other and to the collapsed bar.

2. A collapsible structural element for tents comprising, as a unit, a pair of legs, a bar for forming a ridge pole for the tent, and a plate hingedly joining said legs and bar, said plate having a pair of upstanding spaced ears at its top end, means for pivotally mounting one end of said bar between said ears for movement between an extended position in which said bar projects substantially perpendicularly from the plane of said plate and a collapsed position in which the bar lies parallel to and along one face of said plate, each of said legs being pivotally mounted on said plate for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said plate between an extended position in which the legs diverge angularly from said plate, and a collapsed position in which the legs depend from said plate substantially parallel to each other and to the collapsed bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 264,033 French Sept. 5, 1882 627,626 Owens June 27, 1899 1,100,608 Palmer June 16, 1914 1,128,625 Poulnot Feb. 16, 1915 1,214,979 Von Ahnen Feb. 6, 1917 1,551,762 Marsh Sept. 1, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,338 Australia Nov. 10, 1927 1,073,187 France Mar. 17, 1954 

